The 49ers reunited with Jimmy G on the practice fields Thursday, as the Raiders hosted their former Bay Area rival in Henderson, Nev., for a joint training camp session.
Jimmy Garoppolo signed a three-year, $72.8 million contract to replace Derek Carr this offseason after spending the past five-plus years with San Francisco. Both Garoppolo (foot) and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) overcame injuries this offseason to begin training camp on time.
“It was good to see Ol’ Jim,” Purdy said with a smile. “He’s doing good. He looks healthy and good. Just talking about how everything is here and how he loves it and how we miss him. It’s always good seeing Jimmy.”
The two signal-callers only spent a season together, as Garoppolo started 10 games before getting injured, setting up Purdy’s run to the NFC Championship. The 23-year-old said he and Jimmy have different skill sets, but he was able to learn by observation, especially when it came to the timing and reading progressions in coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
Now Purdy has assumed the role of franchise QB after Garoppolo’s run, usurping Trey Lance’s chance that was lost to injury in Week 2 last season.
“I learned a lot from Jim on how a professional NFL quarterback is supposed to look and act at practice,” Purdy said. “And his leadership and talking to guys. He did a lot of great things here. Just my little time I had with him this last season, there was a lot for me to learn. It was a blessing.”
Before the 49ers defense faced the Raiders offense, linebacker Fred Warner also got to catch up with his former adversary, Garoppolo. Warner said he got flashbacks to the practice fields in Santa Clara.
“It was fun seeing him,” Warner said. “I had to check him out before practice started just to see how things were and if they were treating him well over here. He seems happy. It was fun to go against him out there again.”
According to Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area, Garoppolo was able to piece together a touchdown drive against the Niners defense Thursday, something the 49ers quarterbacks have struggled to accomplish all camp.
Garoppolo said linebacker Dre Greenlaw started chirping early in practice to get the juices going.
“It was fun,” Garoppolo said. “First play, Dre was talking and got things going right away. Those are my brothers, I love those guys. We had a good time out there competing.”
Purdy reportedly led two touchdown drives, but also threw an interception, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic.
While Purdy is admittedly still building up his “volume and velocity” from his elbow surgery five months ago, he said he’s in a good spot physically. Garoppolo was medically cleared shortly before camp after suffering a foot/ankle injury in Week 13, but admitted he may have rushed to get back for the end of the postseason.
Ultimately, Jimmy G couldn’t recover in time to be active for the NFC title game, as Purdy and fourth-stringer Josh Johnson (concussion) were lost to injury. Garoppolo recently told Mike Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle that he had planned to return for the Super Bowl if the Niners made it that far.
“It was my choosing,” Garoppolo said of the rushed rehab. “I was doing my thing trying to get my foot ready. That didn’t work out how I wished it would have, but those guys – going through three quarterbacks and still making it to the NFC Championship game, that’s damn impressive for a team. I know (the) Niners they got a great team and everything, we had a great time. It’s on to Vegas now. I treasure those times. Those were good times.”
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